Envelope lining machine



Dec. 22, 1931. J. N. FOUNTAIN ENVELOPE LINING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet INVENTQR.

1'7/M ATTORNEYS Dec. 22, 19 J. N. FOUNTAIN ENVELOPE LINING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Z m

1 WM A TTORNEYS.

Fatented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH N. NUNTAIN, OF WEST-FIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR. TO OLD COLONY ENVELOPE comm, OF WESTFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATION OF MASSA- crrosnrrs ENVEIDPE LINING MACHINE Application filed February 6, 1928. Serial No. 252,276.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for lining envelopes, that is for applying a decorative interliner or patch to one side of an unfolded envelope blank.

It is customary in manufacturing so-called lined envelopes to apply to the unfo ded blank a decorative liner by a hand operat1on,--that is, operators lay a previously gummed liner on an unfolded blank to unite them. Thls operation is not only costly and increases the cost of lined envelope manufacture but it is difficult if not impossible to apply the liners so that their marginal edges are aligned properly with those of the blank.

According to the novel features of my 1nvention, I provide an apparatus for applying liners to an envelope blank whereby I am enabled to produce lined blanks at much less cost than where the work is done by hand.

Accordin to another novel feature of the invention, provide an apparatus wherein unfolded blanks are fed successively past mechanisms which gum the envelope blank and deposit a liner thereon, wherefore I am able to attain a considerable speed in operation and thereby not only increase production but decrease costs.

Other novel features and advantages will be observed from the following description of the invention which will be described in the form at present preferred by means of the accompanying drawings, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevatlonal view through an apparatus which embodies the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an envelope blank;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a liner therefor;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a liner and blank in superposed relation;

Figs. 6 and 7 are end and side elevational views showing the mechanism for lifting and feeding an envelope blank from a stack;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view through the cam for operating the envelope blank feeding lifter;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational View of the same Figs. 10 and 11 are and and side detail elevational views of the blank removing lifter; and

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are plan or side elevational views showing the construction of the discs for controlling the connection of the blank lifter with the suction means.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 and 2 represents side frames which may take any form desired and which are preferably tiedtogether so as to be suitable for supporting the mechanism forming the apparatus. Shafts 3, 4, 5 and 6 are provided which are journalled in the side frames 1 and 2 and are geared together by means of bevel gears 7 on their outer ends which mesh with other bevel gears 8 fixed to a longitudinal drive shaft 9 1ournalled in the side frame 1. The shaft 9 may be driven by any convenient means such as a pulley 10 which may be connected to a line shaft, motor or the like so that by rotating the shaft 9 the shafts referred to are rotated in unison.

Sprockets 12 are fixed in spaced relation on the shafts 3 and 6 and support endless carrier or conveyor chains 13 so that as the sprockets are rotated the chains will be urged along in the direction of the arrows from one end to the other of the machine. Lugs 14 carried by and arranged in spaced relation on the chains 13 are adapted to engage a bearing 20 of the side frame 2. The shaft l9 and disc 18 are rotated by being geared to the shaft 3 by suitable gears. A hollow stub shaft 25 (see Fig. 6), in axial alignment with shaft 19, is fixed against rotation to the side frame 1 and carries on its inner enda disc 27 which is provided with an axial opening 28 in register with the opening through the hollow shaft 25. A disc 30 fixed to the disc 27 has a central opening 31 therethrough which is in communication with another enlarged opening 32 near the periphery thereof.

A disc 35 fixed to the end of rotatable shaft 19 bears against the disc 30 and has an opening 36 therethrough adjacent its periphery. As the shaft 19 and disc 35 rotate, the opening 36 through the disc passes over the opening 32 in the disc 30 so that for a certain period during the rotation of the shaft 19 the opening 36 is in communication with the opening in the hollow shaft 25.

The disc 18 previously referred to has ournalled therein a blank lifter 40 more clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11 and which comprises a hollow trunnion shaft 41 which carries radial tubular extensions 42 and 43 in the form of tubes. This member 40 rotates with the disc 18 and is arranged to swing back and forth in the said disc 18. The end of the hollow shaft 41 projects into the opening 1360f the disc 35. As the shaft 19 and disc 35 rotate with respect to the stationary disc 30, the end of the lifter trunnion shaft 41 is rotated past or into and out of register with the opening 32 of the disc 30. The end of shaft 25 is connected to a suction device of well known form such as a vacuum pump (not shown) so that while the lifter shaft 41 is in register with the opening 32 suction is applied to the tubes 42 and 43 of the lifter but is cut off therefrom while the trunnion shaft is rotated over the blank surface of the disc 30.

A stationary cam fixed to the side frame 2 is arranged to receive a roll 51 fixed to the lifter 40 and is provided with a rise or incline 50 for acting on the roll at a certain time so as to rock the lifter with respect to the disc 18 while a tension spring 54 connected to the lifter and disc 18 urges the roll towards the cam surface of the cam 50. As the lifter is rotated by the disc 18, it will be swung angularly with respect to the disc when the roll of the lifter is acted on by the rise 50 of the cam.

An elevator 60 having a toothed support or rod 61 suitably guided for an up and down movement in a guide 62 is adapted to sunport a stack or pile of unfolded envelope lanks and is urged upwardly in a step by step manner by means of the following mechanlsm so as to maintain the top of the stack at a convenient level for the removal of the uppermost blank.

shaft 65, rotatable in suitable bearings, has fixed thereto a gear 66 which meshes with the tooth rod 61 and also carriesa ratchet wheel 67. A rock lever 68 oscillatable on said shaft 65 carries a pivoted pawl which is adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet so as to rotate the same accordingly as the lever is rocked up and down and thereby raise the rod and elevator.

A rocking lever 70, pivoted intermediate its ends as at 70', is rocked up and down by a'cam 71 of the shaft 3 and at its upper end is connected to a lever 80 fixed to a rock shaft 79.

A hold down or feeler 75 carried on a lever 76 which is pivoted to the frame is adapted to engage the uppermost blank of a stack carried by the elevator and is moved up and down by a link 77 connected thereto and a lever 78 fixed to the shaft 79. As the link 72 is raised and lowered by action of the cam 71, the hold down 75 is likewise raised and lowered by the levers 7 6, 78 and link 77 so that the hold down acts as a feeler and as it rests on the stack of blanks limits the lowering movement of the link 72 and likewise the extent of the swing of the lever 68. As the top of the stack is relatively high, the angularity of swing of lever 68 is thereby reduced so that the pawl of the lever passes over a less number of teeth and thereby elevates the elevator a less distance than where the lever 68 is allowed to swing through a greater angle. This mechanism is arranged so that the elevator will be elevated a sufiicient distance to compensate for the removal of blanks from the stack.

Guide bars B extend upwardly from a bracket 2 fixed to the frame and are arranged to embrace opposite sides of the blanks at the points indicated by e in Fig. 3 so as to align the blanks and keep them in an even stack or pile and allow the blanks to be elevated therebetween.

The uppermost envelope blank of a stack carried by the elevator is removed from the stack in the following manner. As the discs 18 and 16 rotate in the direction of the arrows (see Figs. 6 and 7) the suction tubes 42 and 43 of the lifter 40 are brought into con tact with the uppermost blank of the stack. At this time, the hollow shaft 41. of the lifter 40 is in communication with the opening 32 through the disc 30 so that the blank is pulled by suction against the ends of the tubes 42 and 43. \Vhen the blank is thus pulled against the tubes, the roll 51 of the lifter arrives at the rise 50 of the stationary cam 50 so that as the disc 18 continues in its rotationthe lifter is swung by the cam relative to 18 to raise the ends of the tubes or swing them rearwardly and raises the blank from the stack. Thus as the lifter with the tubes 42 and 43 is rotated by the disc 18 the ends of the tubes engage the uppermost blank of the stack. The tubes are swung by the cam so that in effect for a short space of time they may be said to drag after the disc. This raising of the blank moves the forward end of the blank rearwardly from beneath the hold down 83 preferably in the form of a flat spring memher which bears on the stack of blanks at their forward end. The rear end of the blank is held against displacement'by the rear guides 13 so that; as the blank is raised and moved rearwardly by the tubes, it buckles between the tubes and guides after the manner shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

The rise in the cam is arranged to swing the lifter and its suction tubes merely to raise a blank and free the forward end thereof, and as soon as the tubes are allowed by the rise in the cam to assume their normal angular position with respect to the disc 18, the hold down 7 is raised or elevated by the mechanism described to release the blank which is then delivered by the tubes to the bite of the contacting rolls or discs 16 and 18. The opening 32 in the disc 30 is arranged so that the suction to the lifter is cut off as soon as the blank is swung a sufiicient distance by the lifter to be engaged by the discs 16 and 18, which discs in their rotation deliver the blank onto the forwardly moving conveyor chains. The projections 14 of the chains engage the rear sides of the blanks as they are deposited on the chains so that they are fed forwardly of the machine for subsequent operations, the first of which is the gumming operation now to be described.

Drums or rolls 90 and 91 fixed to the shaft 4 and to a shaft 92 thereabove which is journalled in the side frames are disposed between the chains 13 and have on their periphery coacting raised ortions 90 and 91 which may be called dies which are arranged to contact with one another as the shafts and drums rotate in unison. The upper shaft is drivenby means of a gear 93 which meshes with a gear 94 of the lower shaft 4. The raised ortion 91" of the upper roll is preferably of a shape to apply a daub or strip of gum to the blank and is adapted as the roll rotates to contact with a daubing or feed roll 95 of a gum or glue supply device G which is arranged to give to the raised portion 91 of the roll a supply of gum as it contacts therewith.

The blanks E, as they are advanced by the conveyor, pass between the drums 90 and 91 which are so timed that the die or raised portions thereof contact therewith, the upper drum applying a gum stripe or daub thereto as indicated by g in Fig. 3, while the drum 90 with its raised portion backs up the action of the gum applying portion of the other.

The raised portions may be varied within wide limits so as to apply gum stripes of various shapes at various places on a blank and will of course depend to a'large extent upon the shape of the patch or liner to be applied to the envelope or other blank.

With the blank thus gummed, it is carried forwardly by the conveyor chains 13 to the liner or patch applying mechanism which will now be described. A drum 100 fixed to the shaft 5 and disposed between the chains and a hollow drum 101 fixed to a rotatable hollow shaft 102 thereabove are geared together by means of gears 103 so as to rotate in unison.

By making the drum 101 and the shaft 102 hollow, the shaft may be connected to a vacuum system or suction device (as in the case of shaft 25). An opening 104: through the periphery of the drum 101 is provided so that a liner may be held onto the periphery of the drum by suction, whereby a liner will be carried by the drum in its rotation.

An elevator or support 106 for supporting a stack of liners L is provided and a hold down device in the form of a lever is pivoted as at 108 and arranged to bear on the uppermost liner of a stack to hold it against displacement.

A rock shaft 110 above the elevator is journalled in the side frames and has levers 111 and 112 fixed thereto. The latter lever 112 carries a suction foot 113 for resting on and engaging the uppermost liner of a stack and a pipe 114 connected to the suction foot is provided for attaching to a suction supplying device. A connecting link 115 slid able on a rotatable shaft 116 is moved back and forth on said shaft by a cam 117 so as to swing the lever 111 and rock the shaft 110 and lever 112 so as to swing the suction foot between its position over the stack of liners and the periphery of the suction drum 101.

By the mechanism just described, a liner is lifted from off the stack by the suction foot 113 and brought into contact with the periphery of the rotating drum 101 which has an opening or openings in its periphery and is connected to a vacuum aparatus as described. The liner is held thereto by suction and carried around and into contact with a blank carried by the chains and backed up by the drum 100. The shafts 110 and 116 are suitably geared together by gears 120 and 121 while the shaft 110 is driven.

from the shaft 5 by meansof bevel gears 125 and 126 and a vertically disposed shaft 127. The drums may have raised portions which correspond to the shape of the glue stripe and which are adapted to press the superposed liner and blank so as to cause the liner to adhere to the blank as the liner is deposited on the blank by the upper drum. The united blank and liner are carried forwardly by the chains and are delivered thereto onto a receiving device such as a table 130 provided therefor and carried by the frames 1 and 2.

As will be observed, the envelope blanks are delivered from a stack thereof to a conposits the blanks one by one on the continuously movin conveyor so that a continuous operation 0 the machine is not interfered with as would be the case where reciprocating parts were employed to perform the feedmg operation.

The a paratus described may be changed or modi ed within wide limits to adapt the apparatus for use in connection with blanks and liners of various sizes and shapes or to adapt it for use in connection with applying what may be called patches to cards or the like without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and I prefer therefor to be limited by the following claims rather than by the foregoing description.

What I claim is: I

1. A machine for lining envelope blanks comprising in combination, coacting rolls for receiving successive blanks, one of said rolls including a suction device for suctionall enaging an uppermost blank from a'stac adacent thereto, a continuously moving chain conveyor for receiving blanks from said rolls, a roll above said conveyor for applying adhesive to blanks thereon, a suction roll for re ceiving successive liners and suctionally engaging the same to deliver them to said blanks and a roll for engaging the underside of a blank .while a liner is being applied thereto.

2. A machine for lining envelope blanks comprising in combination, a continuously moving conveyor including a pair of endless chains, a pair of coacting blank receiving rolls one of .which is provided with a suction picker'for suctionally engaging an uppermost blank of a stack adjacent said rolls which is mounted for rotation on said roll to enter a blank between said rolls, blank engaging means on said chains, a gum roll for applying gum to a blank on said chains, a pan of rolls between which the blanks are fed by the chains one of which is adapted to suetionally engage a liner delivered thereto and to release the same for depositing it on a blank on said chains.

3. A machine for lining envelope blanks comprising in combination, a continuously movlng conveyor consisting of a pair of spaced apart endless chains having projection for abutting blanks on said chains, a pair of coacting feed rolls for receiving blanks, one of said rolls having a suction arm pivoted thereto for suctionally engaging the uppermost blank of a stack adjacent said rolls to transfer said blank to said rolls, a gum roll having a peripheral surface for engaging blanks on said chains, a pair of rolls between which blanks are fed by the chains one of which suctionally engages a liner fed thereto and releases the same for depositing it on a blank on said chains.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

JOSEPH N. FOUNTAIN. 

